England recall Haskell for Springboks - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

England recall Haskell for Springboks

19/11/2008 07:35:31 AM Comments (0)

Wasps flanker James Haskell has been recalled by England as team manager Martin Johnson looks to strengthen his pack for Saturday's clash with world champions South Africa at Twickenham.

Haskell, who comes in at the expense of Tom Croft, is the only change to the XV that started the last weekend's 28-14 defeat to Australia, but there are only four survivors from the England side that started last year's World Cup final against the Springboks.

Johnson admitted England would have to improve substantially on their display against the Wallabies if they are to prove a match for what he expects to be a highly-motivated South African side.

"I think they will definitely be up for it. They won't have any problems with that," Johnson said.

"They will want to finish the season off on a high and beat us at Twickenham.

"It's a big thing for opposition teams to come here and win, as you saw with the Australians' reaction when they won here on Saturday.

"They play with huge intensity, passion and physicality."

England's new supremo pledged that the mistakes made against Australia would not be repeated.

"They were little things that added up last week," he said.

"Things like that that can be fixed very quickly. It's about guys knowing their roles..."

Croft drops to the bench, where he is joined by uncapped Leicester No.8 Jordon Crane, whose promotion to the 22 comes at the expense of Michael Lipman.

Johnson has kept faith with the tight five that struggled to impose themselves against the Wallabies but Haskell's inclusion will provide greater physical presence in the back row as England seek to counter the Boks' mobility.

Haskell looked set to be an England regular after two impressive performances against the All Blacks during a tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

He lost his place to Croft after making a slow start to the season in a struggling Wasps side but impressed after coming off the bench against Australia.

The four survivors from the World Cup final are wing Paul Sackey, props Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan and flanker Nick Easter.

England: Delon Armitage; Paul Sackey, Jamie Noon, Riki Flutey, Ugo Monye; Danny Cipriani, Danny Care; Nick Easter, Tom Rees, James Haskell; Tom Palmer, Steve Borthwick (capt); Phil Vickery, Lee Mears, Andrew Sheridan. Reserves: Dylan Hartley, Matt Stevens, Simon Shaw, Tom Croft, Jordan Crane, Harry Ellis, Toby Flood.

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